FAQ'S
What does El Barrio mean?
In Spanish, “El Barrio” means “the neighborhood.” In English slang, it means “the ghetto.”
Is this authentic Mexican food?
Not exactly. Most of our menu items are Mexican-inspired, created from an array of regional recipes. However, we are not of Mexican descent, nor do we claim our dishes taste like those you might have in Mexico. We do strive to make everything taste very good, though.
Do you take reservations?
NO
What if I have a large group?
We can accommodate groups of 10 to 12 people. Please allow our staff extra time to set up tables for parties this size. Groups of 12 or more may be divided up into smaller parties.
I’m a vegetarian. Can I eat here?
Yes. We have a variety of options for vegetarians and vegans, as well as our customers with gluten-free needs.
I prefer to eat naturally raised products. Can I eat here?
Yes. All of our meats, seafood and poultry have been humanely raised on natural diets. As for our produce, we source locally and organically whenever possible.
For more information on where we source our products, just ask.
Our Story
In Spanish, “El Barrio” means “the neighborhood.” In English slang, it means “the ghetto.”
The sketchy connotation captures the skepticism four restaurateurs faced in 2011, when they opened a Mexican-inspired eatery in the historic city center of Birmingham, Alabama. Founding partners Geoff Lockert and Brian Somershield had already defied local expectations with the stupendous success of their unpretentious pizzeria Zaza. And yet a second restaurant seemed like a longshot, even after the pair recruited business manager Chris Cullen and chef Neville Baay as partners in the new venture.
“An attitude that we encountered was a certain type of person saying, ‘Why would anybody open a restaurant downtown?’” Somershield remembers. “But the way that we were approaching the food, the way we were positioning ourselves as a neighborhood place, we thought it was going to work.”
They thought right — in its first decade of operation, El Barrio has become one of the most popular restaurants in Birmingham history, serving tens of thousands of tacos and margaritas unrivaled anywhere else in the Magic City. Alongside standards such as chicken enchiladas and chile relleno, the menu features inventive delights like chorizo meatloaf and plantain nachos. The multi-regional Mexican-inspired cuisine is prepared with locally sourced seasonal produce and natural farm-raised meats.
El Barrio serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday, plus a Saturday brunch. The restaurant offers indoor dining as well as limited-contact curbside pickup.
PRESS
Safety Top Concern for El Barrio When It Comes to Reopening
https://www.wbrc.com/2020/04/16/safety-top-concern-el-barrio-when-it-comes-reopening/?outputType=amp
Birmingham’s Top Rated Upscale Restaurant
https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/news/2020/04/30/list-birming ham-s-highest-rated-upscale.html
NY Daily News: The Best Mexican Restaurant
in Every State
https://www.nydailynews.com/featured/sns-best-mexican-restaurant-in-every-state-20190221-20190224-photogallery.html
Where to Get Birmingham’s Best Margarita
https://www.al.com/bhammag/2017/08/where_to_get_the_citys_best_ ma.html
El Barrio A Good Addition to the Downtown Birmingham Restaurant Scene
https://www.al.com/entertainment/2012/02/el_barrio_a_good_addition _to_t.html